ARAMIDiE — THE COURLANS — ARAMUS. 
401 
The Courlan, in the North American fauna, has a restricted distribution, being 
confined exclusively to the peninsula of Florida, and not being known to exist in any 
other portion of the United States. It occurs in Cuba and Jamaica, and probably in 
others of the West India Islands, and in portions of Central America. It is not 
mentioned by Leotaud as occurring in Trinidad. 
In Florida, according to Audubon, it appears to be entirely confined to that section 
of the peninsula of Florida known as the Everglades, and the swampy borders of the 
bayous and lagoons issuing therefrom. In one instance it is said to have been pro- 
cured among the Florida Keys by Titian Peale. It was not met with by Audubon 
on any of those islands, nor did he notice it on any part of the coast between Florida 
and Texas. Audubon describes its flight as heavy and of short duration, the con- 
cavity and shortness of the. wings, with the nature of the places which it inhabits, 
rendering it slow to remove from one spot to another on wing, it being found chiefly 
among tall plants, the roots of which are frequently under water. When it rises of 
its own accord, it passes through the air at a short distance above the weeds, with 
regular beats of the wings, its neck extended to its full length, and its long legs 
dangling beneath, until it suddenly drops to tire ground. If pursued, few birds excel 
it in speed. It proceeds by long strides, first in a direct course, and afterward diverg- 
ing, so as to insure its safety even when chased by the best dogs. When accidentally 
surprised, it rises obliquely out of its recess, with the neck greatly bent downward ; 
and although its legs dangle for a while, they are afterward extended behind in the 
manner of Herons. At such times it is easily shot. If only wounded, it is vain to 
pursue it. By the great length and expansion of its toes it is enabled, although of 
considerable size, to walk on the broad leaves of the Nymphece. It can swim with 
all the buoyancy of the Coot and the Gallinule. 
Its nest is composed of rank weeds matted together and forming a large mass 
with a depression in the centre. This is placed among the larger tufts of the tallest 
grasses which grow at short distances from the bayous, some of them influenced by 
the low tides of the Gulf ; it is fastened to the stems of these plants in the same 
manner as that of the Clapper Bail, and is generally secure from inundation. The 
eggs are usually six in number, and are large for the bird. The young are hatched 
out early in May, are covered with a rather coarse black down, and follow their 
parents soon after their appearance. This bird is said to feed, in Florida, chiefly on 
a large greenish snail which is abundant in the Everglades. While on the wing it 
utters a note said to be a sort of cackle, like that of the Common Hen ; but when 
on the ground this cry is much louder, especially during the pairing-season, or when 
startled by the report of a gun. Its flesh is regarded as good eating. r rhe statements 
as to its ever alighting on trees Audubon was inclined to discredit. 
Dr. Bryant (Proc. Boston Nat. Hist. Soc. VII. p. 11) does not consider Audubon 
as being quite accurate in regarding the Everglades as the headquarters of this spe- 
cies. In his visits to that portion situated near Fort Dallas, he did not meet with 
an individual. He never found it either on the shallow ponds or the wet savannas so 
numerous in the neighborhood of Indian River. The part of Florida in which lie saw 
it was on the St. John’s and the waters connected with it, between Lake Harney and 
Lake George. He first noticed it at Wikiva, and from there found it in great num- 
bers as he descended the river, wherever the locality was suited to its habits, until 
he arrived at Spring Garden Lake, where it was more numerous than at any locality 
previously visited. It was generally seen standing on the edge of the shore, or else 
on the Nympheon or other broad-leaved plants able to support its weight. He found 
it very tame and unsuspicious for so large a bird, allowing itself to be approached 
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